New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-01
THACHER1Y \.
- SPECIMEN OF HIS EARLY PROSE STYLE.
constitutes.

THE STORY OF THE OLD WOMAN AND THE BEAN
SACK.
From The AneBDun.
On the ODD OF October 1888, Thackeray in Paris
again. and wrote as follows:
admire your indignation about the old and
the sack of 1t is translated from very clever
French story, which Is written in sort of patOs sup
pose not Initiated 1t WELL for sent away the per-
formance the day written, and does not know
check but the paper is very RAPIDLY improving and VIII
form. have doubt, property In which case 1t would
be pleasant as an occupation and an Income
Thi, letter refers article which appeared in the
number the 18th of October 1888 under the title OF
preservation a good specimen OF Thackeray's early
prose style. We therefore give it below:
ORIGINAL PAPERS.
A Tue Of Wonder.
Once upJn a time there Old woman who lived in
village far off, and who went to market To buy
sacr Of beas Now She had 10 walk back ten miles over
dreary cOmnOn long step at most times, but ter
yipe pull when one has sack OF beans on ones back. ii
was night before size got half and the hid,
and the falling, aud the old woman ready
70 drop she tired and hungry so she was right glad
when sac came 10 house. which, though an ugly looking
place the best she thought quite good enough for her
She took ont penny and asked for bed and the worn-
OF the house let her 70 into loft where she slept
her sack OF beans
Now the house belonged to thieves; and this was
OF their wives VINO let In the woman with the
sack
But, though the old tired she could not
Sleep bat lay tossing about her straw quite uneasy
presently she light in the below men,
each with Knife ami lantern
Aud she felt desperately heightened you fancy,
her. which often done In those days, when there
great many ogres and giants.
Well, the two men with the knives went on till they
came TO "A bed where gentleman sleeping, who had
been Oyertaken like the Old woman and who had got with
him large portDaeau there he lay sound posi-
Die. sLoring away IN manner quite pleasant TO hear As
soon the two roges how fast asleep he was the
biggest took hold Of bis legs and the little took
bis knife and cut the gcnuenas throat, slick ut
siash!
they had stuck him they left him there all
bloody, took the portiDantcau and went
stairs the Old woman with tho sack became mighty
uneasy thinking was TO he her turn next aud that II
was all with her FOR certain; whereas heaven had
sent there purpose To detect and punish these
mast told them OF the poor old In loft
1or presently up they canc again. knives and lanterns
aud all.
The poor old body terribly frightened. you may
think especially when the big an took hold Of her legs
CAS- he had done below sars and the little one up
- her head with his lantern and his long knife.
However she did u muscle, only she snOred to
mako believe she asleep.
LETS leave her., says the big man. "shes asleep and
can tell no tales"
LETS XII her." says the little One "she do to feed
An this while the old woman lay as still as stone;
and last they did not suspect that SHE awake,
hey let her Off and went down stairs she escaped
IKE brave old woman ~ Sue wss She saw them wrap
S6urt yard presently they called the pigs Ind up they
same grunung and sputinR round thstr0ugh which
~ coffin that these wicked monsters gave the poor
lou may suppose that she did not sleep much that
Int but the next morning ~ soon ~ IL was light che
SpfeA the woman Of the house. took UP her sack and
ts9 Assas - though nothing had happened trudgns